We’ve had four-cylinder Mercedes-AMG models since the launch of the A45 in 2013 and, heading further back, rear-driven four-pot performance Mercedes-Benz saloons in the stylish forms of the 190E 2.3-16 and 2.5-16 in the 1980s.
But the new C43’s longitudinally mounted turbocharged 2.0-litre engine means it’s effectively crossing the streams, even if it does come with standard four-wheel drive.
The new C43 marks the dawn of a new downsized era for AMG, one that will soon lead to a brawnier C63 plug-in hybrid using a more powerful version of the same base engine.
While the C43 lacks both a charging port and a high-voltage hybrid system, it does bring its own electric innovation with the arrival of a new Garrett 48V turbocharger. This uses a compact motor that acts directly on its shaft, adding up to 8bhp of assistance and capable of spinning at speeds to 175,000rpm.
It can also harvest up to 4kW of energy from exhaust gas, although more regeneration comes from a 48V starter-generator. Peak system output is 402bhp, accompanied by 369lb ft of torque.